Rape kits could tell the true story!

The Inquirer News Service Reports from The Philippines:

“Dr. Maria Corazon A. De Ungria, a multi-awarded molecular microbiologist in her 30s, was among the many participants who set up exhibit booths at the recent World Bank-sponsored “Panibagong Paraan,” the first Philippine “development innovation marketplace” that showcased more than a hundred NGO (nongovernment organization) finalists hoping to win and get funding.

Dr. Ungria’s group, the DNA Analysis Laboratory of Natural Sciences Institute of the University of the Philippines, was among the more than 50 winners. Her group’s winning project proposal: “Incorporating DNA Evidence in the Resolution of Sexual Assault Cases in the Philippines.”

Winning translated into one million pesos, not a windfall really, but it could go a long way.

The DNA lab in UP can now implement what it had proposed: validate a prototype investigation kit, establish an integrated system for rape investigations and storage of evidence, and train the lawyers/judiciary on the proper interpretation of forensic DNA evidence in the courtroom.”

A rape kit could deliver those shreds of evidence, microscopic they may be, that could give an idea of the crime scene and the profiles of the guilty.

It is light, handy, cheap and easy to use. It’s all in one big envelope.

If they are desired, rape kits should be available to as many individuals and agencies in the helping profession as possible. Rape kits could spell the difference between justice and no justice and could lead to the speedy crime resolution for the victims, the guilty and the innocent as well.

Dr. Ungria said that with the advent of forensic DNA technology as a powerful investigative tool in the prompt resolution of criminal cases, an efficient and secure system must be developed for the collection, analysis and storage of biological evidence. Rape kits form part of this technology.

A rape kit consists of several collection tubes with caps in different colors, cotton swabs for collecting samples from different parts of the victim’s body (vagina, external genitalia, anus, mouth and throat), small envelopes for the collection tubes, instructions on how to gather samples, preserve, pack, seal, preserve (at what temperature, etc.) and transport.

Also included are a sexual assault case history sheet to be filled up and signed by the interviewer and medical examiner, and a check list of the samples collected to be signed by the health practitioner who collected the samples. Pieces of clothing (like underwear) that might contain samples should be included, too.

Links to further handling of forensic evidence and the “chain of custody” are mapped out in this great piece as well. We here at Crime: Information & Prevention would like to extend our appreciation to dedicated men and women like Dr. Ungria who is working hard to make her “corner of the world” a safer place for women now and in the future. As forensic evidence gathered so easily, and inexpensively (as mapped out above), will no doubt lead to more accurate identification and conviction of rapists. This DNA technology serves a two-fold purpose by not only putting the finger on the rapist, but at the same time is very effective in preventing an innocent man from being incarcerated for a crime that he did not commit.

Karate for Pussies?

I’d like to steer you to the Martial Arts Planet forum board for some education, contemplation and entertainment. Good resource!

The post reads: “I’m a bit curious as to how karate performs in self defense. Anyone have any stories about when it worked(or didn’t)?”

Post reply #1 Strikeout: “Well my karate didn’t do jack for me when I was hit from the side in crowd by a guy I didn’t see. I would guess only the force could help you with that one. I have also been attacked and done a part of kata (Heyan godan) (with out thinking about it) as a defence and to overtake the opponent.”

My kinda guy, really! He gets “pearl harbored” and attributes that to a lack of peripheral vision, which all Dan ranked students should possess, and believes he needs “the force” to help him. Is this Nick.com? His second defense, doing a kata, would have been quite entertaining if actually done as stated! Movements contained in katas are practiced and become natural after thousands of repetitions and with the understanding of the “application” of those fancy (or not so fancy) movements. If you have no intention in your practice then there’ll be weakness and mistakes in the applications.

In answer to the original question of using karate in a real confrontation, a poster adds: “From what I have seen in my association, you wouldn’t want to mess with anybody at 3rd Dan or above”

A very adept “countershot” was immediately posted underneath: “So you reckon the 2nd Dans are pussies huh?” What a hoot! I love this guy already! A sense of humor after my own heart.

All joking aside, Martial Arts Planet is a very cool self defense resource. I just ran into a humorous thread while surfing the boards. Check it out!

I want to share this excellent resource with you. Especially ladies who are on the fence about self defense issues and don’t mind spending 15 minutes garnering some great information. The name is AWARE..cool name too!

Arming Women Against Rape & Endangerment

I have to encapsulate for you readers, that “brain and “mindset” are discussed right away. Martial arts are discussed, (and links) with more resources. Also, other deterrents like a dog, or a personal alarm such as a defense whistle, and even a stun gun may not be the answer. They are relegated to the 2nd level of self defense: “you should not count on it as your primary, or only, method of defense”.

You have to read the part about the cops who trained shooting targets while being shocked by 50,000 volt stun guns and returning all “center hits”. I wish I could have been there with a Stun Monster 625,000 volt stun gun while they were firing. Just kidding, but someone would have got shot and not many center hits! Why’d they do this anyway, you have to ask yourself?

They seemed to like the possibilities of OC pepper spray but it went the way of the whistle and stunner. The simple, crude, kubotan, a devastating little tool when fighting for your life, got kudos, and links to more on that as well. Check out our friends at AWARE!

Telescopic Steel Batons = Bone Crushing Self Defense!

I have been posting a lot lately about pepper spray, stun guns, and personal alarms. I would like to welcome you to my world, where bells and whistles, shocks and OC pepper are a joke, and only to be feared if you get “Pearl Harbored” with the OC spray…that stuff stings but it pisses me off too! I’m talking about the streets, where road rage runs rampant, and any walk to your car in a nightclub parking lot, might turn into a battle for your life.

I have been a student of kali, escrima, arnis for many, many years and the baton, or stick becomes like an extension of your hand. After many months, even years, of training with the stick/s, the stick can be replaced by a telescopic steel baton and it can also be replaced by a blade, such as a sturdy butterfly knife. The damage that the rattan stick can inflict is truly amazing, but the damage inflicted by a steel baton or a sharp knife is as lethal as a gun. A trained escrimador can kill an attacker with ease, using any of these items, but that takes a bit of practice.

I recommend these two self defense tools above all others because they are reliable 100% of the time! You don’t have to worry about your assailant being impervious to a stun gun or being so loaded on drugs that pepper spray won’t have any effect either. I can assure you, that a full power stroke of a steel baton will break anything it hits. And, by the same token, a lightning fast series of cuts with a sharp knife will make an attacker suitable for the ground meat department. Sound cruel? Sound final? Well they are! These two handy self defense weapons, even in the hands of a new practitioner, are a very formidable deterrent against attacks.

I have found; that a fast hand, twirling a rattan stick or a steel baton, or flipping a razor-sharp butterfly knife out of the pocket and into the locked position, seems to evoke a primordial instinct. They speak a universal language that is instantly understood by all!

This post is dedicated to one of my teachers, Sensei R. Farris for all of the years of his selfless, patient, tutelage in this form of martial art.

A Stun Gun That Only Looks Like A Cell Phone!

Manufacturers of non-lethal self defense products have hit another “home run” with the Cell Phone Stun Gun with a 100 db personal alarm. The intended victim carries a common everyday tool. In this case it’s a cell phone, it really isn’t a cellular unit, but an ear numbing 100 db personal alarm wrapped inside a 800,000 volt cell phone stun gun. Two deterrents in one package, awesome! They’ve even rated a US patent.

The fake cell phone does not function as one, but it’s such an innocuous looking unit that no one would give it a second thought unless they closely inspected it. I’m excited about these units. I’m all for “beating an attacker to the punch” with anything we can use to avoid becoming victims of a crime.

It has been my experience, after watching literally thousands of fights (and even partaking in a few), that many fighters don’t fight well when you take the battle to them. Similarly, criminals rely on these same tactics, surprise, the subsequent fear of agression, to put you “back on your heels”, and even freezing some people into immobility and compliance.

Lately, there have been a lot more concealable self defense products which when properly employed, have the same effect on the attacker! Most will think of nothing but escape after receiving a very painful shock, not to mention the 100 db personal alarm screaming in their face. Their first thoughts will be to flee, avoid detection, avoid the police and prosecution, and definitely to get away from that nasty little cell phone stun gun!